Thomson

It’s a heck of a way to run a pre-election campaign. On the eve of an expected election, politicians usually spend their time playing up good news, downplaying the bad, shaking hands and kissing babies.

In doing so, Kelly gave Canada the right to send three sleds to 2010 Winter Games in Whistler.

The third sled belongs to Gough, an Abbotsford, B.C., native living in Calgary.

“I’m so happy,” said Gough, 32. “I was pretty confident coming in, but it’s for sure a relief to get it over.

“It’s for sure now. No more hoops.”

Anja Huber of Germany booked her trip to the Olympics with a first-place finish in a combined time of one minute 55.65 seconds. Gough came in second with a time of 1:56.51 seconds, while Kelly stopped the clock in 1:56.36.

“I can finally sleep now,” Gough said. “I haven’t been sleeping terrible. I don’t know if it’s from the shaken baby syndrome from doing the sliding or the stress.”

Probably the stress. An Australian slider stood at the top of the track Friday and wept over failing to qualify for the Olympics. Donna Creighton of Britain also just missed out on her chance to compete at the Games next month.

“It’s not like we snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat,” said Canadian coach Duff Gibson. “We held on to what was ours. So that’s good.”

Kelly, 35, is banged up but still competing.

“She has a month now to rest up for the Games,” Gibson said. “I’m confident she’ll be ready to go.”

The Canadian skeleton women have endured their share of inner strife this season. But in the end, they got what they wanted with the three coveted Olympic berths.

Mellisa Hollingsworth of Airdrie, Alta., will join Kelly and Gough as Canada’s medal hopefuls at the Whistler Sliding Centre.

“I’m just so tired, I don’t even think I’m going out to celebrate,” Gough said. “I’ll go for one beer — no, a glass of wine.